What you need to know about the Braves’ 3-0 win over the Brewers in their National League Division Series Game 2 in Milwaukee on Saturday:
Early lead
The Braves, who squandered a chance to take an early lead in Game 1, got on the scoreboard first in Game 2 with three consecutive one-out hits in the third inning. A double inside the third-base line by Jorge Soler, an RBI single to right field by Freddie Freeman and an RBI double off the top of the right-field wall by Ozzie Albies gave the Braves a 2-0 lead against Brewers starter Brandon Woodruff.
Fried’s dominance
Braves left-hander Max Fried, who had a 1.46 ERA across his final 11 starts of the regular season, extended that dominance into the postseason. He pitched six scoreless innings, allowed three hits, walked none and struck out nine. The Brewers didn’t get a runner to second base against him until Willy Adames’ two-out double in the sixth inning. Fried was lifted for a pinch-hitter with two out and nobody on base in the seventh, the Braves up 3-0, after throwing 81 pitches.
Late-inning drama
Braves manager Brian Snitker entrusted the 3-0 lead to his bullpen for the final three innings. Luke Jackson struck out the first two batters in the seventh before a single and a walk ended his outing. Tyler Matzek ended the seventh by striking out Tyrone Taylor to strand the two runners. Matzek pitched a scoreless eighth despite the first two batters reaching base and the Brewers bringing the potential tying run to the plate three times. Closer Will Smith pitched a scoreless ninth despite the first two batters again reaching base. The game ended on a third-to-second-to-first double play.
Power from Riley
The Braves’ third run came in the sixth inning on a solo homer by Austin Riley off Woodruff, one of the Brewers’ three All-Star starting pitchers. It was Riley’s second career postseason homer. The sixth inning completed the day for Woodruff, who allowed three runs on five hits and struck out seven.
Notable
-- After Game 1 was played with American Family Field’s retractable roof closed Friday, Game 2 was played with it open. That marked the Brewers’ first postseason game with their stadium’s roof open since 2011. The 21-year-old stadium was known as Miller Park until it was renamed this year.
-- Joc Pederson delivered as a pinch-hitter for the second consecutive game, following his Game 1 home run with a Game 2 single while hitting for Fried in the seventh inning.
-- Speedster Terrance Gore made his Braves debut in his prescribed role as a pinch-runner. Running for Pederson, Gore was attempting to steal second base when Soler flied out to the left-field wall to end the top of the seventh.
-- With runners in scoring position, the Braves were 1-for-6 and the Brewers 0-for-7.
-- Braves catcher Travis d’Arnaud was 0-for-4 with four strikeouts.
What’s next
The best-of-five series, now even at one game apiece, moves to Truist Park for games 3 and 4 on Monday and Tuesday. As of Saturday, tickets remained available for both games at braves.com/postseason, starting at $40 for Monday and $25 for Tuesday. The Braves described the remaining inventory for Monday as “limited.” More seats remained available for Tuesday.
